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Iran has defied international demands to rein in its nuclear program and has increased its stockpile of uranium enriched to near weapons-grade levels, according to a confidential report by the United Nations’ nuclear watchdog seen Tuesday by The Associated Press. The report by the International Atomic Energy Agency said that as of Oct. 26, Iran has 182.3 kilograms (401.9 pounds) of uranium enriched up to 60%, an increase of 17.6 kilograms (38.8 pounds) since the last report in August. Uranium enriched at 60% purity is just a short, technical step away from weapons-grade levels of 90%.
Western countries on Wednesday formally submitted a new resolution critical of Iran at the International Atomic Energy Agency ahead of its board meeting, diplomatic sources said, pushing ahead despite Iran’s warnings against the move. “The text was formally submitted” just before midnight on Tuesday, a diplomatic source told AFP on condition of anonymity, with a second diplomatic source confirming the information. Britain, France, and Germany are seeking to censure Iran for what they say is poor cooperation with the UN nuclear watchdog over its nuclear program.
A Dissident’s Final Act of Protest Stuns Iran | The New York Times
The Iranian government first arrested him when he was a teenager protesting a crackdown on student activists. He remained undeterred. For two decades, the regime repeatedly threw him into jail and detained him in psychiatric institutions, but the more Iran tried to silence him, the more outspoken Kianoosh Sanjari became. A tall, lanky man known for his dark suits and striped ties, he recounted the horrors he had experienced in interviews and videos posted on his social media accounts. “The Islamic Republic ruined the days of my youth, as it did to millions of others,” Mr. Sanjari, a well-known journalist and human rights activist, once said. “Days that could have been filled with passion, happiness and sweetness were spent in prison, doing irreversible damage to my body and soul.”
UANI IN THE NEWS
The US Congress should investigate China’s purchases of Iranian oil in the past five years, a top US advisory panel on China has urged, with Tehran looming as a larger issue in the next Trump presidency... The commission – citing advocacy group United Against Nuclear Iran and other sources tracking data on Iranian oil exports – said on Tuesday that China’s imports of Iranian oil rose 9 per cent year on year in 2023.
Iran's estimated stockpile of enriched uranium has reached more than 32 times the limit set in a key nuclear deal, the UN watchdog warned in a report seen today… Kasra Aarabi, Director of IRGC Research at United Against Nuclear Iran, told MailOnline: 'In the past four years during the Biden presidency, the circle around the Ayatollah have started to openly discuss weaponization as the regime has significantly increased its uranium enrichment to near weapons-grade levels. 'Those who claim the regime would never use nuclear weapons are the same people who, for decades, claimed the regime in Iran would never directly attack Israel… 'There is a real threat of Iran deciding to use the presidential transition period in the U.S. to make a dash for nuclear weapons,' warned Jason Brodsky, UANI's Policy Director.
NUCLEAR DEAL & NUCLEAR PROGRAM
Iran Offers To Cap Sensitive Uranium Stock As IAEA Resolution Looms | Reuters
Iran has offered not to expand its stock of uranium enriched to up to 60% purity, near the roughly 90% of weapons grade, and made preparations to do that, the U.N. nuclear watchdog said in confidential reports to member states on Tuesday. During International Atomic Energy Agency chief Rafael Grossi's trip to Iran last week, "the possibility of Iran not further expanding its stockpile of uranium enriched up to 60% U-235 was discussed", read one of the two confidential quarterly IAEA reports, both seen by Reuters. It added that the IAEA had verified that Iran had "begun implementation of preparatory measures".
Iran Increases Its Near Weapons-Grade Uranium | Voice Of America
Iran has increased its supply of uranium that has been enriched to 60% purity, according to confidential International Atomic Energy Agency reports sent to member states and seen by several news agencies. Atomic weapons can be created when uranium enriched to 60% is further enriched to 90%. The enrichment procedure is a short, technical process. However, Iran has offered to cap its stockpile of enriched uranium if Western powers abandon their plan to pass a resolution against the Middle Eastern country at the IAEA Board of Governors meeting this week in Vienna. The resolution is about Iran’s lack of cooperation with the IAEA, the U.N. nuclear watchdog agency.
SANCTIONS, BUSINESS RISKS, & OTHER ECONOMIC NEWS
Iran's Foreign Ministry on Tuesday night summoned the British chargé d’affaires to protest the latest UK sanctions on Iran’s shipping and aviation industries over Tehran’s alleged missile transfers to Russia. Iran's Foreign Ministry on Tuesday night summoned the British chargé d’affaires to protest the latest UK sanctions on Iran’s shipping and aviation industries over Tehran’s alleged missile transfers to Russia. The British envoy was told that Iran's defense cooperation with Russia is legitimate and legal and is not against any third party, according to Iran’s state TV.
NATO Allies Punish Iran For Russia Support With Vast New Sanctions | Newsweek
The European Union and the United Kingdom have vastly tightened sanctions on Iran as punishment for the Middle Eastern country's support for Russia in the war with Ukraine. The new penalties, which come as the war hits 1,000 days, include asset freezing, prohibitions on exports, limits on shipping, and more. The E.U. and the U.K. announced on November 18 that the moves were the result of Tehran sending ballistic missiles and drones to Russia, which the Iranian government denies. Newsweek reached out to the Council of the European Union and the U.K.'s Foreign Office for comment via email, and to the Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran in London.
U.S.-IRAN RELATIONS & NEGOTIATIONS
Treasury Targets Key Hamas Leaders And Financiers | U.S. Department Of The Treasury
Today, the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) is designating six senior Hamas officials, including the terrorist group’s representatives abroad, a senior member of the Hamas military wing, the Izz Al-Din Al-Qassam Brigades, as well as individuals involved in supporting the terrorist group’s fundraising efforts and weapons smuggling into Gaza. “Hamas continues to rely on key officials who seemingly maintain legitimate, public-facing roles within the group, yet who facilitate their terrorist activities, represent their interests abroad, and coordinate the transfer of money and goods into Gaza,” said Acting Under Secretary of the Treasury for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence Bradley T. Smith. “Treasury remains committed to disrupting Hamas’s efforts to secure additional revenue and holding those who facilitate the group’s terrorist activities to account.”
CONGRESS & IRAN
The Biden administration is lobbying Democratic senators to vote against legislation being advanced by several of the party’s most progressive members that would block more than $20 billion in weapon shipments to Israel, two US officials told The Times of Israel on Tuesday. The series of Joint Resolutions of Disapproval co-sponsored by Senators Bernie Sanders, Peter Welch, Jeff Merkley and Brian Schatz are slated to come to a vote on Wednesday and aim to block six weapon transfers to Israel, which include guided missiles, tank rounds, mortars, tactical vehicles and F-15 fighter jets.
RUSSIA, SYRIA, ISRAEL, HEZBOLLAH, LEBANON & IRAN
Iran And Syria Bolster Alliance Amid Regional Tensions And Global Shifts | The Jerusalem Post
Syrian Foreign Minister Bassam al-Sabbagh flew to Iran this week, where he met with his Iranian counterpart, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi. The meeting between the two men was reported in Iranian state media, but it did not initially provide many details except that they discussed “various issues.” After they met, Iran said it would continue its strong support for Damascus. This is significant as Iran is a key backer of the Syrian regime. With a new US administration coming into office, the Islamic Republic and Syria may be considering what comes next. They also know that Russia could escalate against Ukraine in the coming months.
A United States envoy said an agreement to end the Israel-Hezbollah war is “within our grasp” after talks in Lebanon on Tuesday. However, there was no such optimism in the Gaza Strip, where the looting of nearly 100 aid trucks by armed men worsened an already severe food crisis. Amos Hochstein, the Biden administration’s pointman on Israel and Lebanon, arrived as Hezbollah’s allies in the Lebanese government said the militant group had responded positively to the proposal, which would entail both its fighters and Israeli ground forces withdrawing from a U.N. buffer zone in southern Lebanon. The buffer zone would be policed by thousands of additional U.N. peacekeepers and Lebanese troops. Israel has called for a stronger enforcement mechanism, potentially including the ability to conduct military operations against any Hezbollah threats, something Lebanon is likely to oppose.
Iran, Russia Determined To Develop Ties At Maximum Level: VP | Tehran Times
Aref made the remarks during a meeting with the visiting Russian Minister of Energy Sergei Tsivilev in Tehran on Tuesday. As there are considerable capacities in both countries for boosting cooperation, it is important that the two sides enhance trade exchange and implement the agreements on cooperation, Aref noted. It is an indication of the strong will of both sides to foster ties as they continue consultations, especially during the current global and regional situation, the vice president said. The Islamic Republic of Iran says that the all-out and long-term cooperation with Russia is of paramount importance, he added. For his part, the Russian minister of energy said there are several grounds for deepening cooperation between his country and Iran.
CHINA & IRAN
The Clandestine Oil Shipping Hub Funneling Iranian Crude To China | Bloomberg
Forty miles east of the Malaysian peninsula sits the world’s largest gathering point for dark fleet tankers. Aging ships, often operating under flags of convenience and without insurance, come here daily to transfer cargo away from prying eyes. It’s how billions of dollars of sanctioned Iranian oil finds its way to China annually — even though the country, officially, hasn’t imported a drop in more than two years. A Bloomberg analysis of nearly five years of satellite images from the hotspot shows the vast size of the shadow industry that’s developed as the US has tightened its sanctions on Iran.
AFGHANISTAN & IRAN
Iran Deports Over Half A Million Afghans In 2024, UN Reports | Amu TV
Iran has deported more than 559,000 Afghan nationals in 2024, according to the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). This marks an 18 percent increase compared with the estimated 472,000 deportations during the same period in 2023. The U.N. agency reported that from January to September 2024, it conducted 110,031 monitoring interviews with Afghan migrants, including 97,131 men and 12,900 women. These interviews revealed that many Afghans left their home country due to economic hardship, food insecurity, uncertainty about the future, health issues, restrictions on female education, and a lack of access to essential services.